Volusia deputy involved in fatal shooting over cab fare

A man who was shot by a Volusia County deputy early Monday evening at his Deltona residence has died, the Sheriff's Office confirms to FOX 35.

A dispute over a cab fare Monday night in Deltona escalated when the customer pulled out a gun, prompting a responding sheriff's deputy to fire on the armed man, Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson told FOX 35. The man was shot multiple times and airlifted by a Sheriff's Office helicopter to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, where he later died.

A spokesman with the Sheriff's Office said the disagreement began shortly before 6:30 p.m. when a cab driver took a customer to an address on Maldive Court in Deltona.

"The customer initially tried to pay the fare with a credit card, but the card was declined. The customer then offered to write a check for the bill, but the taxi driver told him that they only accepted cash or credit cards," said Gary Davidson with the Sheriff's Office.

The cab company called for a deputy who arrived just before 7 p.m. to try to resolve the dispute. The man went into the house and came out carrying a gun, according to deputies. Perceiving a threat, Deputy Kyle Cowger drew his gun and fired on the man in the doorway.

"The man was pointing the firearm at them and was threatening them with the firearm. They challenged the individual. They told me him to put the gun down. He did not put it down," said Sheriff Johnson. "Their lives were in danger, at which time they fired on this individual."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be investigating. The 28-year-old Cowger has been placed on administrative leave with pay, which is standard practice in a deputy-involved shooting.